A Tesla Semi-electric truck traveled more than 1,000 miles in a single real-world day for a new independent study.
There have been many doubts about Class 8 battery electric semi-trailers. Many didn’t think they could ever compete with diesel trucks.
Bill Gates is one of the skeptics. Gates argued that all-electric semi-trucks like the Tesla Semi would “probably never work” because the batteries would be too heavy.
I didn’t see them achieving the 500-mile diversity needed for long-distance road transport.
Tesla proved him wrong last year with a 500-mile race with a single race.
The North American Council for Freight Transportation Efficiency (NACFE) conducted a study as part of its new Run on Less program to test several electric trucks in real-world situations and publish the data in real time.
There are three new Tesla Semi trucks in the range this year, and we reported the first data earlier this month.
Today, the 18 days are over and on the penultimate day, the No. 3 Tesla Semi managed to cover a record 1,076 miles in a single day:
So, over 1,000 miles per day with 3 stops to recharge, while charging, it seems like the truck can run frequently with a lot of queue and Gatorade. I expect the trailer to get a battery upgrade in the next two years, which will perform even better. Hydrogen-powered trucks are best for peak applications, with 10 times higher fuel load and low mobile fuel efficiency.
While NACFE specified the payload for that specific day, it reported that those trucks averaged more than 70,000 pounds of cargo.
Michael Lohscheller, Nikola Motor’s new chief executive, said last month after one of its hydrogen-fueled mobiles traveled 900 miles in one day:
I challenge to locate anywhere another zero-emission truck vehicle capable of traveling up to 900 miles per day.
Well, I one. The Tesla medium.
The knowledge gathering part has just ended and we hope that NACFE will publish more findings from them soon.
Fred is editor-in-chief and senior editor of Electrek.
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